Scottish Executive

Air Services

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in developing new air routes between Inverness Airport and Europe.

Nicol Stephen: Highlands and Islands Airports Limited and consultants appointed by the Executive to progress the Interim Route Development Fund have been in discussions with a number of airlines regarding European routes from Inverness airport. Negotiations are continuing but no agreements have been reached to date.

Air Services

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the owners of Aberdeen Airport and what discussions took place with regard to the airport's development.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive and its agencies meet BAA Scottish Airports Ltd on a regular basis to discuss a range of aviation matters, including developments at Aberdeen Airport.

Animal Welfare

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has conducted into vehicular accidents involving deer.

Nicol Stephen: The Deer Commission for Scotland, which is funded by the Scottish Executive, has undertaken research into issues relating to wild deer welfare and public safety, which included deer related road accidents in Scotland. A summary of the research was published in the Deer Commission for Scotland: Annual Report for 1999-2000 , a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 9425). The commission is currently undertaking research on the threat that deer pose to public safety on certain identified stretches of road. The commission is also considering further research on the effectiveness of measures to reduce the risks, with the aim of identifying appropriate initiatives to address issues relating to public safety and deer welfare.

  The Scottish Executive is participating in research along with the UK Government into the level of deer-related road accidents and the development of a database of such accidents.

Care of Elderly People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct local authorities to pay the same fee for an elderly person in an independent or voluntary sector care home as is paid to a local authority home, given that each home is required to meet the same quality standards of care provision.

Mr Tom McCabe: No. Local authorities are bound by section 22 of the National Assistance Act 1948 to recover, where possible, the full costs of providing care in their homes.

Charity Law

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to introduce charity law reform.

Ms Margaret Curran: As I made clear in both my statement last Wednesday and in my answer to Cathy Peattie’s question last Thursday, we are considering the scope and timing of such legislation and we are determined to ensure that it will be as comprehensive and effective as possible.

Education

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its detailed plan to reduce class sizes at primary one to 25 children as referred to in A Partnership for a Better Scotland .

Peter Peacock: We will announce our plans once detailed consultations with education authorities have taken place.

Energy Efficiency

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what standard will be used to define the proposed new energy banding system to classify houses according to energy efficiency.

Ms Margaret Curran: No decision on the detail of the energy efficiency element of the proposed Decency Standard has yet been taken, pending consultations and discussions on the Scottish Social Housing Standard, on the Housing Improvement Task Force recommendations on a cross-tenure Scottish Housing Quality Standard and on Article 7 of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU Directive 2002/91, dated 16/12/02 published in the OJ on 4/1/03).

Further Education

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to improve the quality of college management in the further education sector.

Mr Jim Wallace: It is key to the success of our further education colleges that they are governed and managed to the highest standards in order to ensure the quality of service delivered to students and communities.

  The Scottish Further Education Funding Council is responsible for funding Scotland’s colleges and for securing the adequate and efficient provision of further education (FE). As part of that responsibility, the funding council works closely with Scotland’s colleges in encouraging high standards across all aspects of college activity, including in their management. I look to the funding council to continue to support improvements in the operation of our FE colleges.

  In terms of direct activity by the Scottish Executive, we last year provided additional funding for the creation of a FE development directorate in the funding council. The directorate has been given the task of improving governance and management in a wide range of issues by drawing on existing expertise within the sector. We will continue to look at ways to build on such initiatives and to support further steps to improve quality within FE colleges.

Further Education

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the industrial relations record of the further education sector has been compared with the rest of the public sector.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive does not maintain central records concerning industrial relations within individual further education colleges. Industrial relations are primarily a matter for college boards of management and representatives of the staff.

  I recognise that, in a sector employing over 22,000 staff, it is possible that disputes will occur from time to time. I do not take the view, however, that the overall industrial relations record of the further education sector varies significantly from other parts of the public sector. I expect management and unions throughout further education to foster a strong mutual commitment to promote good relations.

Further Education

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will include matters pertaining to industrial relations in its review of governance and accountability in the further education sector, especially in light of the recent employment tribunal judgement regarding Motherwell College

Mr Jim Wallace: The outcome of the ministerial review of governance and accountability in the further education sector was announced on 28 March. While the review did not propose any substantial change to industrial relations arrangements, I do expect all further education colleges to promote good industrial relations with their staff to ensure the continuing efficient and effective delivery of further education to students.

  As part of the package of measures which will be taken forward as a result of the review, we have given a commitment to consider the case for further changes in two years’ time. Any future need to address industrial relations issues will be addressed as part of that consideration.

Health

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what priority it gives to improving the link between paediatric services and maternity care in the health service

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive's vision for maternity services, set out in the report of the Expert Group on Acute Maternity Services, is of a woman and baby centred service, with a range of provision for care in childbirth including midwife-led care in local community maternity units and consultant-led units. The EGAMS report recommended that consultant-led units dealing with low- to medium-risk pregnancies and labour should have onsite paediatric facilities. It further recommended that tertiary referral centres dealing with more than 3,000 deliveries per annum should have access to onsite neonatal intensive care and access to neonatal surgery, and onsite adult intensive care facilities to ensure effective management of risk for both mother and baby.

Hepatitis

Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that all haemophiliacs infected with hepatitis C as a result of NHS treatment receive their medical notes well in advance of the deadline for litigation in the United States of America.

Malcolm Chisholm: Patients who receive treatment from the NHS in Scotland have the clear right, for whatever reason, to ask NHS organisations for the medical records of their treatment. I recently took steps to make it clear that NHS Scotland must be as open and transparent as possible in responding to requests from patients. Of course, this includes haemophiliacs infected with hepatitis C.

  I have previously stated that anyone who is having problems should contact the Health Department with details to allow officials to ascertain the position. I repeated this offer on 28 May and a departmental contact telephone number was given.

Hospitals

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the Fort William Medical Community Working Group's proposal that Belford Hospital become a rural general hospital and what action it will take to put this proposal into effect.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is for NHS Highland in the first place to consider any proposals for service change and development in consultation with all interested parties and the wider public.

Housing

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what restrictions apply to tenant and local authority representatives on the boards of housing partnerships that have received former council housing stock in respect of public discussion of matters arising at board meetings.

Ms Margaret Curran: All members of the boards of Registered Social Landlords (whether tenant or local authority representatives or independent members) will be bound by their board’s Code of Conduct. All board members are required to act in the best interests of the RSL and the Code of Conduct will set out what the RSL expects of its board members with regard to confidentiality, conflict of interest and collective responsibility. The use of such a Code of Conduct is designed to ensure high standards of integrity in the voluntary housing movement. The need to maintain confidentiality also has to be balanced with operating in an open and accountable manner and an RSL should ensure that information is publicly available unless it is personally confidential or commercially sensitive.

Justice

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the value of fines, forfeitures and fixed penalties sent to HM Treasury was in 2002-03.

Cathy Jamieson: A total of £23,300,583 was sent to HM Treasury in 2002-03 from fines, forfeitures and fixed penalties.

Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to help people from deprived urban areas exercise their statutory rights of access to mountains under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

Allan Wilson: Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 establishes rights of responsible access for everyone to land and inland water in Scotland. The act also places a duty on local authorities and National Park authorities to draw up plans for systems of core paths sufficient for giving the public reasonable access throughout their areas. It is expected that most people will choose to exercise their access rights mainly in the countryside around where they live. However, core paths will link up where appropriate with upland paths to improve access to mountain areas.

  We intend to issue guidance to authorities on the drawing up of core paths plans. As required by the act, a draft of this guidance will be laid before Parliament, probably early next year.

People with Disabilities

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements each NHS trust has in place to receive and assist an unaccompanied disabled person on their arrival at a hospital, whether as an in-patient, out-patient or visitor, who has been dropped off at the hospital entrance and what guidance it has issued to trusts on this matter.

Malcolm Chisholm: While this is a matter for NHS Holding Bodies (NHS trusts or NHS boards) with no information of the nature requested held centrally, compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act is an issue which the Scottish Executive takes very seriously.

  We have issued NHS MEL (1999)67 which recommended that NHS bodies draw up programmes to ensure compliance within the timescale given in the act for implementation. To assist NHS bodies to meet with this timescale the Scottish Executive has provided a training video, good practice guidance, information on some of the key barriers to implementation of section 21 and an Access Audit Toolkit and Checklist.

  The Good Practice Guidance issued to NHSScotland in 1999 gave advice on procedures to be followed. The advice included a recommendation that hospitals should be made aware of the needs of disabled persons (when a disabled person is being referred to a hospital from another service and with that person’s permission) and be prepared to respond appropriately.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-34684 by Mr Jim Wallace on 25 March 2003, what conclusions the director of HM Prison Kilmarnock has reached with regard to the procedures for suicide prevention at the prison.

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-34683 by Mr Jim Wallace on 25 March 2003, what changes the director of HM Prison Kilmarnock has concluded need to be made to improve procedures for suicide prevention at the prison.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Director of HM Prison Kilmarnock has told us that, following a comprehensive review of their suicide prevention strategy, apart from minor changes to some documentation the policy should remain unchanged.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-34453 by Mr Jim Wallace on 13 March 2003, what the quarterly baseline total, as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule F of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock , was in the last quarter of the performance year 2002-03.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Six hundred and sixty-one.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S1W-31088, S1W-31487, S1W-32018, S1W-33898 and S1W-34139 by Mr Jim Wallace on 8 November, 22 November and 10 December 2002 and 18 February and 28 February 2003 respectively, what performance points were accrued by the operating company of HM Prison Kilmarnock, broken down for each heading and subsection in Schedule F to the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock , for the quarter January to March 2003.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is given in the following table.

  Performance Points – January to March 2003

  


2.1(a) 
  

Absconds 
  

0 
  



2.1(b) 
  

Temporary Release: Inadequate Risk Assessment 
  

0 
  



2.1(c) 
  

Release of Prisoner in Error 
  

0 
  



2.1(d) 
  

Failure to Provide Accurate Daily Report 
  

0 
  



2.1(e) 
  

Failure to input basic Details into Prisoner Records 
  

0 
  



2.1(f) 
  

Failure to Process Accurate Warrant Details 
  

0 
  



2.1(g) 
  

Discovery within Prison of Smuggled-in Items 
  

350 
  



2.1(h) 
  

Key/Lock Compromise 
  

0 
  



2.1( i) 
  

Failure of Security Procedures 
  

150 
  



2.2(a) 
  

Serious Injury 
  

0 
  



Minor Injury 
  

20 
  



No Injury 
  

55 
  



2.2(b) 
  

Serious Injury 
  

0 
  



Minor Injury 
  

20 
  



No Injury 
  

70 
  



2.2(c) 
  

Incident of Concerted Indiscipline 
  

120 
  



2.2(d) 
  

Incident of Hostage Taking 
  

0 
  



2.2(e) 
  

Incident of Roof Climbing 
  

0 
  



2.2(f) 
  

Incident of Self-Harm 
  

20 
  



2.2(g) 
  

Incident of Class 'A' Drugs 
  

370 
  



2.2(h) 
  

Incident of Drugs Other than Class 'A' 
  

60 
  



2.2(i) 
  

Contingency Planning Exercise (Non-Completion) 
  

0 
  



2.2(j) 
  

Fire Evacuation Exercise (Non-Completion) 
  

0 
  



2.2(k) 
  

Failure to Comply with Agreed Reporting Procedures 
  

0 
  



2.2(l) 
  

Tool/Implement Loss (Recovered) 
  

4 
  



2.2(m) 
  

Tool/Implement Loss (Not Recovered) 
  

4 
  



2.3(a) 
  

Failure to Provide Timeous Medical Assistance 
  

0 
  



2.3(b) 
  

Failure to see Medical Officer on Admission 
  

0 
  



2.3(c) 
  

Failure to Provide Meal 
  

0 
  



2.3(d) 
  

Failure to Comply with Health and Safety and Hygiene Requirements/Legislation 
  

0 
  



2.3(e) 
  

Failure to Respond to Prisoner Complaint Timeously 
  

0 
  



2.3(f) 
  

Substantiated Complaints Against Staff 
  

0 
  



2.3(g) 
  

Failure to Comply with Cleaning Schedule 
  

0 
  



2.3(h) 
  

Failure to Repair (Equipment and Services) 
  

10 
  



2.3(i) 
  

Failure to Repair (Accommodation and Other Areas of Prison) 
  

0 
  



2.4(a) 
  

Failure to Deliver Regime Activity Hours (Sentenced Prisoners) 
  (76-95%) 
  

0 
  



Failure to Deliver Regime Activity Hours (Sentenced Prisoners) 
  (66–75%) 
  

0 
  



Failure to Deliver Regime Activity Hours (Sentenced Prisoners) 
  (56-65%) 
  

0 
  



Failure to Deliver Regime Activity Hours (Sentenced Prisoners) 
  (Less than or Equal to 55%) 
  

0 
  



2.4(b) 
  

Failure to Deliver Work Hours (Sentenced Prisoners) (76-95%) 
  

60 
  



Failure to Deliver Work Hours (Sentenced Prisoner )(66-75%) 
  

10 
  



Failure to Deliver Work Hours (Sentenced Prisoners)(56-65%) 
  

0 
  



Failure to Deliver Work Hours (Sentenced Prisoners)(Less 
  than or Equal to 55%) 
  

0 
  



2.4(c) 
  

Failure to Deliver Education Hours (76-95%) 
  

0 
  



Failure to Deliver Education Hours (66-75%) 
  

0 
  



Failure to Deliver Education Hours (56-65%) 
  

0 
  



Failure to Deliver Education Hours (Less than or Equal 
  to 55%) 
  

0 
  



2.4(d) 
  

Failure to Provide Structured Activity Hours (Sentenced 
  Prisoners) ( 75-95%) 
  

200 
  



Failure to Provide Structured Activity Hours (Sentenced 
  Prisoners) (66-75%) 
  

30 
  



Failure to Provide Structured Activity Hours (Sentenced 
  Prisoners) (56-65%) 
  

0 
  



Failure to Provide Structured Activity Hours (Sentenced 
  Prisoners) (Less than or Equal to 55%) 
  

30 
  



2.4(e) 
  

Failure to Deliver Regime Activity Hours for Remand Prisoners 
  (76-95%) 
  

0 
  



Failure to Deliver Regime Activity Hours for Remand Prisoners 
  (66-75%) 
  

0 
  



Failure to Deliver Regime Activity Hours for Remand Prisoners 
  (56-65%) 
  

0 
  



Failure to Deliver Regime Activity Hours for Remand Prisoners 
  (Less than or Equal to 55%) 
  

0 
  



2.4(f) 
  

Failure to Provide Sentence Planning 
  

0 
  



2.4(g) 
  

Failure to Provide Prisoner Compacts 
  

0 
  



2.5(a) 
  

Failure to Deliver Pre-Release Programmes 
  

0 
  



2.5(b) 
  

Visits – Failure to Start within 20 Minutes of Visitor 
  arriving 
  

18 
  



2.5(c) 
  

Prisoner not Visited by Legal Advisor 
  

0 
  



2.6 
  

Failure to Report/Incorrect Reporting of any Performance 
  Measure 
  

0

Public Bodies

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to encourage younger people to apply for appointment to the boards of public bodies.

Mr Andy Kerr: As ministers we want to be able to appoint more people to the boards of non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) from population groups that are currently under-represented, including people under 35. That is why I welcome the recent appointment of the youngest ever member of an NDPB, Ceit-Anna Macleod, a 19-year-old student, to the board of the Bòrd Gaidhlig na h-Alba.

  We are doing a great deal to try to attract more young people like her to apply. We have for example worked with organisations like Youthlink Scotland and the Scottish Youth Parliament on research programmes and a board member shadowing scheme.

  We have also legislated to give the new Public Appointments Commissioner for Scotland (PACS), who will be appointed by the Parliament later this year, a specific responsibility to promote diversity on our NDPBs. We look forward to working with the PACS as he or she draws up a diversity strategy for public appointments and reviews targets for under-represented groups. A key task will be to build on our work to date in raising awareness of the opportunities on NDPBs among younger people.

Public Private Partnerships

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the absolute exemption in section 36(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to the general entitlement to information in section 1 of that act would apply to the release of information other than permitted disclosures relating to a school public private partnership where that partnership had an information and confidentiality clause modelled on clause 59 of the Scottish Schools Standard PPP Contract and, if not, what the circumstances would be in which such a release of information would not be so exempt.

Tavish Scott: Clause 59 of the Scottish Schools Standard Contract is designed to ensure the co-operation of any contractor in supplying the information that a public authority may require in order to respond to a request made to them under the Freedom of Information legislation.

  The absolute exemption in section 36(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act will only apply in circumstances where the disclosure of information by a public authority could constitute an actionable breach of confidence by a third party. In that event, authorities should discuss with the third party whether the information still needs to be classified as such. If these particular circumstances did not apply the public authority could not properly withhold information under that exemption.

  Any decision by a Scottish public authority to use this exemption would of course be subject to the appeal procedures set out in the act including a review by the Scottish Information Commissioner.

Public Sector Pay

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether public sector workers are adequately rewarded by the current minimum wage.

Mr Andy Kerr: Responsibility for setting a National Minimum Wage rests with the UK Government, as advised by the Low Pay Commission, and is a reserved matter.

Public Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what schemes it has implemented, or plans to implement, to encourage the employment of under 21s in the public transport sector and whether it will support any funding or assistance for insurance cover for public transport drivers under 21.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has no specific schemes to encourage young people to gain employment in public transport. However, we welcome such initiatives on the part of transport operators and are aware of a small-scale initiative along these lines in Glasgow involving First Group, which stemmed from the Scottish Welfare to Work Advisory Task Force. The Scottish Executive has no plans to provide financial assistance to public transport operators to fund insurance cover for young drivers under the age of 21.

Public Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what schemes it has to promote public transport jobs for women.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive recognises that women are currently under-represented in the public transport workforce. While the Executive does not have any specific schemes to encourage the employment of women in public transport, we would welcome appropriate initiatives on the part of operators to encourage women to seek employment in the sector.

Public Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that public transport workers and vehicles are protected from crime and vandalism; what discussions it has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland about this matter, and what the duty of the police is in respect of policing and protecting public transport and its staff.

Cathy Jamieson: As the partnership agreement, A Partnership for a Better Scotland , makes clear, we are determined to act against crime and vandalism. The travelling public and those who provide public transport services have the right to go about their business in safety, without fear of violence or injury.

  The police have a duty "to guard patrol and watch so as to prevent the commission of offences, to preserve order and to protect life and property". Regular discussions take place between the Executive and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland which cover a wide range of issues, including crime and vandalism.

  However, it is for each Chief Constable to determine how he uses the resources at his disposal to police his area. As regards public transport, I understand that Lothian and Borders Police, for example, plan to appoint a dedicated Public Transport Liaison Officer whose role will be to liaise with transport providers in promoting the implementation of specific schemes and projects aimed at enhancing safety on public transport.

Rail Network

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the transport section of A Partnership for a Better Scotland , whether re-instatement of the Borders railway line remains subject to the test of a "business case".

Nicol Stephen: All transport projects for which funding is sought from the Scottish Executive are subject to appraisal under the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance .

Roads

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what road construction proposals have been announced since 1999; how many objections or representations were received in respect of each proposal, and whether a public inquiry was initiated as a result of any such objections or representations.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable and timescales are for the construction and opening of each agreed and proposed new road scheme

Nicol Stephen: The information requested covers a large number of road schemes, and takes the form of a summary table running to several pages. The Information is therefore given in Summary of Trunk Road Construction Proposals since 1999 , a copy of which has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 27668).

Scottish Water

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what efficiency targets have been set for Scottish Water for (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05 and (c) 2005-06 and what the projection is of how its performance will compare with these targets.

Ross Finnie: Scottish ministers have asked Scottish Water to aim to meet the Water Industry Commissioner’s targets as set out in his Strategic Review of Charges 2002 – 2006 , without putting at risk environmental compliance or public health. It is for Scottish Water to make an assessment of what its performance will be and how this compares with the targets set.

Small Businesses

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to provide assistance for small business start-ups.

Lewis Macdonald: We work closely with the Enterprise Networks to improve the quality and consistency of the business support they provide, and we have supported the introduction of the Small Business Gateway which provides support and advice to new businesses across the Scottish Enterprise area.

  As outlined in the Partnership Agreement, steps are in hand to further improve support measures through the introduction of a new Business Start Up Fund.

Social Justice

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how its commitment to environmental justice is linked to its commitment to social justice.

Allan Wilson: Environmental justice is concerned with addressing those inequalities that affect the quality of people’s lives, which is a central concern of social justice.

  The goals of environmental justice are reflected in many of the social justice commitments cited in A Partnership for a Better Scotland.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been (a) allocated to and (b) spent by each local authority in respect of creating park-and-ride sites in each year since 1999 and what monitoring takes place of the expenditure of funds allocated to the creation of such sites.

Nicol Stephen: The following table shows the funding allocated from the Public Transport Fund by the Scottish Executive to each local authority and Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority towards the creation and expansion of park-and-ride sites for each year since 1999. In some cases, approximate figures have had to be given, as these elements form part of a wider programme of public transport improvements.

  


Local Authority 


1999-2000
(£ million) 


2000-01
(£ million) 


2001-02
(£ million) 


2002-03
(£ million) 


2003-04
(£ million) 


2004-05
(£ million) 


2005-06
(£ million) 




Aberdeen City Council 

 

2.500 


2.500 

 
 
 
 



Aberdeenshire Council 


0.300 


0.960 


0.185 

 
 
 
 



Angus Council 

 
 
 

0.018 


0.025 


0.470 

 



City of Edinburgh Council 

 
 

1.7891


0.924 


0.924 

 
 



East Lothian Council 

 

0.1702

 
 
 
 
 



Falkirk Council 


0.230 


0.120 


1.600 


1.000 


1.000 

 
 



Fife Council 

 
 
 

3.8843

 
 
 



Glasgow City Council 

 
 
 
 

0.107 


2.608 

 



Midlothian Council 

 
 
 

1.000 


1.000 

 
 



North Lanarkshire Council 

 

1.260 

 
 

0.155 


0.938 


0.014 




Perth and Kinross Council 

 
 

0.975 

 
 
 
 



SESTRAN4

 
 
 
 

2.269 


4.384 


4.386 




South Lanarkshire Council 

 
 
 

0.422 


0.382 


0.262 


0.660 




Stirling Council 

 
 
 

0.002 


1.315 


0.625 


0.776 




Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority 

 
 
 

0.935 


0.200 

 
 



  Notes:

  1. Includes £1.327 million for 2001-02 and 2002-03, which cannot be broken down between years.

  2. Total figure for 2000-01 and 2001-02. No breakdown between years available.

  3. Total figure for 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05. No breakdown between years available.

  4. The South-East Scotland Transport Partnership. The City of Edinburgh Council, Fife Council and West Lothian Council all have allocations within this award for park-and-ride schemes in their area.

  The Scottish Executive monitors the progress of such projects by scrutiny of the various management returns and invoices required from the recipient of grant.

Vaccines

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when thiomersal will be removed from those vaccines containing the substance that are currently administered.

Malcolm Chisholm: The regulation and safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

  The MHRA has advised that to date a number of UK licensed vaccines have had levels of thiomersal reduced or removed completely from the manufacture of the component antigens or from the final vaccine. While there is no set timescale for removal of thiomersal from vaccines, these developments are regularly reviewed and, on 1 April 2003, the MHRA wrote to UK vaccine marketing authorisation holders asking for an update on progress in reducing or removing thiomersal from vaccines.

Water Charges

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to reduce the impact on small businesses of increased standing charges for the provision of water and sewerage services.

Allan Wilson: Charges to individual customers are matters for the Water Industry Commissioner and Scottish Water who must agree a charge scheme. Each charges scheme must raise income no more than the revenue cap set by ministers.

Youth Crime

Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the First Minister what evaluation will be made of the youth court pilot project in Lanarkshire.

Mr Jack McConnell: The youth court will be subject to a comprehensive evaluation by independent researchers from the University of Stirling.